1. History

2. Beliefs

3. References

4. External links

City First Church (formerly Rockford First) is an Evangelical megachurch located in Rockford, Illinois. The senior pastor is Jeremy DeWeerdt.

History

City First Church was originally a small Swedish assembly that began meeting in a storefront hall on 5th Avenue in downtown Rockford in 1929.^[1]

In 1934, the name "First Assembly" is adopted during the pastoral ministry of Pastor Carl O'Guin.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}City First is a part of the Assemblies of God . Their claimed mission is four-fold; to evangelize the lost, worship God, disciple believers and to show compassion for others.

On September 12, 1971 a new location opened for First Assembly with a seating capacity of 1,200, at the corner of Spring Creek and Mulford Rds. First Assembly of God, under Pastor Eugene Whitcomb, opened Christian Life Elementary School in 1973. In the fall of 1974, Pastor Whitcomb and 5 other church-members were flying home from So.Dakota when the twin engine plane crashed over Albert Lea, Minnesota. Pastor Ernest Moen of 1st Assm. of God in Phoenix, AZ was called to officiate at the funeral and he later became the new Pastor with a 99% vote.

The Rev. Ernest Moen, was a wonderful man of God and spiritual leader and visionary during his tenure. In 1975 Christian Life High School opened. Then in 1979, WQFL 100.9FM was purchased from Open Bible Church. (Rev. Don Lyon) In 1981, Christian Life Retirement Center was opened on N. Mulford near the church.

In 1986, the church begin the construction of a new building with a seating capacity of 3,650 persons.^[2]In 1993, Pastor Jeannie Mayo and Jeremy DeWeerdt launched the post high school group which is now called Focus One.

In 2007, Jeremy DeWeerdt become the senior pastor became the Lead Pastor after receiving 92% of the congregational vote. At age 37, he became the church's 6th pastor in it's 77 year history. DeWeerdt says he interpreted the strong affirmation vote as a mandate for change. Six weeks later he made the painful decision to lay-off top ranking personnel to cut $850K from the budget.This was the first of three major downsizings that took place in his first three years as leader, in a strong effort to avoid bankruptcy for the church. By 2012 Rockford First, as it was called then was the 7th fastest growing church in the USA, after having risen from 900 when he took over, to around 4,000 by 2013. DeWeerdt's original assignment was in 1990, where he interned as youth pastor under Jeannie Mayo. During his tenure in that position, Wednesday youth night went from 34 to 850 students! In the course of 14 years DeWeerdt says he saw thousands of lives changed by strong biblically based sermons, and by creating a mindset that the church should be a safe and exciting environment that welcomes everyone just as you are. Reaching the lost and preaching unto salvation is more important than the periphery. Pastors Jeremy and Jennifer's focus is to "Love God, Love People, Love Life". and that they are not only a friendly church, but a family church.

In 2012, the church begin a new program, "Champions Club" to help children with special needs, like mental, physical or behavioral challenges.Pastors Jeremy and Jennifer DeWeerdt had two sons already when they welcomed a third. He was born with Down's Syndrome. Initially shocked and questioning God, the DeWeerdts concluded that he was a Gift from God and that his life would be of great importance in the ministry of Rockford First Assembly of God. ^[3]

In 2014, the attendance is 4,000 persons.^[4]

In December 2010, Rockford First was listed number 51 in the 100 largest Assemblies of God churches in the United States.^[5]

In September 2012, Outreach Magazine named Rockford First the 7th fastest growing church in the nation, with a 60% increase in weekly attendance between February 2011 – 2012.^[6]

In 2016, the attendance is 5,000 persons.^[7]

On January 29, 2017, Rockford First officially changed its name to City First Church because of the multiple locations, including Cape Coral, Florida and "God Behind Bars" at the Dixon Correctional Center in Dixon, IL and a new location at Hononegah High School opening on Easter Sunday, 2019.^[8]

Beliefs

City First Church is part of the Assemblies of God. The Assemblies of God claimed mission is four-fold; evangelize the lost, worship God, disciple believers, and show compassion.^[9]

References

External links

• City First Church

• The Pennings, Eye
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• The Pennsylvania Magazine of History & Biography
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